One year from Crimea referendum, EU condemns its reunification with Russia

March 16, 2015, 17:40 UTC+3BRUSSELSOne year after the referendum in the Black Sea peninsula the European Union does not recognize and continues to condemn this act of violation of international law, the statement says

Share

1 pages in this article

Rally marking the first anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia

BRUSSELS, March 16. /TASS/. The European Union Council said on Monday it condemns Crimea’s reunification with Russia and reaffirms support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity a year after the historic referendum took place.

The European Union "remains firmly committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and refers to the March 2014 referendum in the Black Sea peninsula as "illegal and illegitimate."

"The European Union does not recognize and continues to condemn this act of violation of international law," the statement says.

In the March 2014 referendum, around 97% of voters supported reunification with Russia. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Crimea’s reintegration into Russia the same month.

In a documentary "Crimea. The Path to the Motherland" that was broadcast by Russia’s television channel Rossiya 1 on Sunday, Putin said Crimea’s parliament was an absolutely legitimate legislative body when it voted in favor of reunification with Russia.